Nothing gets people in a party spirit like
a round of shots. Sure, there’s something a tad juvenile about
slamming back the shot-glasses, but sometimes a little bit of immaturity
can be just what a quasi-adult needs. Shots are the very antithesis of
everything the cocktail snobs think good drinks ought to be: frequently so
sweet/strong/harsh that they couldn’t possibly be tolerated in any
other slower-sipping form, shots aren’t meant to be classy. They’re
100% pure concentrated fun without any pretense, meant to be enjoyed
amongst good, good friends who’ll still love you no matter how much of
an embarrassment you make of yourself— and on a long, long evening in
which no one has any immediately pressing places to drive to for quite
awhile.

If you’re
ready to move beyond the classic tequila shot, dole out some of these
shooters at your next party.

Sprinkle sugar on a plate. Cut the lemon into wedges, then dip each
wedge into the sugar, coating the surface as well as you can. Fill shot
glasses with lemon vodka. Down a shot; suck a lemon; enjoy!

b-52
Kahlua
Bailey’s Irish Cream
Grand Marnier

In a shot glass, layer equal quantities in the exact order shown – because
of their differing densities, each ingredient should float as you add
it, creating a pretty layered shot. Of course, to maintain the layers,
you’ll need to pour very, very carefully with a steady hand.
Alternatively, pour your first ingredient. Take a small spoon and rest
the tip against the surface of the first layer, bottom (convex) side up,
then pour the next liquor over the surface of the spoon as gently as
possible. Let the layer rest a few seconds, then repeat with the next ingredient.